The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-07-13
PORK AND BEANS.


said Mrs. Peck Wheeler. 9 to have had a
centenarian in the ianiimily. oh, yes,
know she was great trial. but it's too
provoking TO think that she couldn't
have lived just eleven months longer
Then we could have had it put in the
paper. and everybody would have been
asking questions. ] don't know that
there's a soul in Bundleton county that
is hundred years old-no, not anywhere
near if"
But there was no help for it.
Great-aunt Besty never had been ono
who considered other peoples wishes
and convenience, and her death was cor
respondent 10 her life.
"If she'd only swallowed that bad
dose Of medicine, she might have lived,
said Mrs Wheeler. But she was that
set in her way she was determined to die
And she ground her lips together, and
turned her face away, and me standing
there with the best silver spoon, all
ready
Il s'pose she's left a snug sum said
Mrs. Bidwell, whose moon-like spec
taeles expressed whole dictionary full
Of interrogation points"
% Not a cent? said Mrs. Wheeler
LAND o Goshen said Mrs. Bid
well. holding up both hands. And
she such a saving creeter all her life,
too
@Nell YOU know she lost considerable
when the Bundleton bank failed said
Mrs. Wheeler; though she never would
own how much. And me and Peck We
kind O mistrusted she'd been helpin' to
build that meeting house on Scraggy
Hill, and sending money to LOUSY Jane
and her miserable. shiftless husband out
in Dakota Territory. There amt no ac-
countin for the whims of folks in their
dotaee We've looked through all her
things, and there amt nothin' to be
found but lot Of the s,-fashioned
duds you ever sot your eyes ON. shall
keep some out Of the old silks for nay
crazy quilt, and sell the rest TO the first
nlgman that comes along"
Il always reckoned,7 said Mrs. Bid
well, that there would be something
found in that old red chest @ hern. three
cornered till
Mrs Wheeler shook her head.
No, said she there wasn't moth
ing there but a string Of gold beads, worn
as thin as cobwebs, and set oflynx furs
all eat up by the moths"
"Well ] am astonished" said Mrs
Bidwell.
The longer I live oracularly spoke
Mrs. Wheeler, the more realize there
amt nothing too strange to harpen.'
That's as true as Gospel" sighed
Mrs. Bidwen and hope the Lord II
reward you, sister Wheeler. for all your
kindness TO that poor creetur that's
gone,
80 she gathered up her silk workbag
her spectacles and her knitting needles,
and trudged away to tell all the neigh
bors how shamefully Peck Wheeler's
wife had abused her husbands Great
aunt Besiy. forcing medicine down her
throat with silver spoon. when she was
at the last gasp and traducing her MEM
ory because she had not been able to
leave a fortune behind her.
And she prolessin member, too,
said Mrs. Bidwell, rolling mp her eyes.
Wen, well. hope il may be a lesson to
us all, not to be over putIed-up with god
illness"
Which was rather peculiar logic, but
emineptly characteristic Of the Mrs. Bid
wells Of this world
While Mrs. Wheeler, who really had
been very kind to the poor old lady who
had 50 nearly attained to the dignity Of
cenienarian, and who had conscien-
tionslv done her best 10 take care Of her,
went about her housework with a sigh.
She always yearned for ccntenarian
in the family, and NOW the nearest aspir-
ant to that honor was her Cousin Reuben
Crane, wo was eighty seven, and asthma
tic At that
Mr.. Wheeler came in earlier from his
farm work that day.
"Oh, declare to goolness. mother,
forgot said he. Drusilla wanted to
borrow few white beans old Mrs.
jerks is coming there % live, and she
sets deal Of store by baked pork and
beans
Well. ! never. said Ms Wheeler,
WHO WAS vigorously setting the table
nattling on plates. knives, forks and
spoons with methodical energy that
spoke the New England 'housekeeper
all over. That's just like Drusilla What
won't She borrow next? knew when
the bean patch wanted polling 80 bad
that il wouldn't never amount 10 moth
ing. If ID been Drusilla, should have
gone and poled 'em myself There was
plenty of good cedar poles in the barn
and John in such pucker with his hay
ing-but Drusilla always was such shift
less creatur
Mr.. Wheeler chuckled.
Il never vet knowed mother-in-law
was connected with her darier-in-law, =
said he. ~Drasilla's nice girl enough.
Taint everybody has got drive. moth
err
Just then light fooistep crossed the
threshold and Drnsilla herself made her
appeaanoe-a blooming matrcn, with
bright hazei ewes, brown hair, crimpled
in the latest fashion. and cheeks like a
ounce blossom.
Il own up, nrnsilla.r said the old
farmer. deprecatingly lifting his hands,
Il clean forgot TO tell mother about the
beans Its all nay fault
There's lot in some old stone hut
ter crooks on the shelf in 6reat-aun,
Besty's milk ROOM said Mrs. Wheeler
Goodness knows how long she's had
'em, bat they'll soak out and eat Just a.
sweet as last years crop lmay as well
begin to clear away some of her old
trnck"
lsrusilla family demonstrated as Mrs
Wheeler hustled out Of the room.
. But, mother they will never soak
sost And want pork and beans fol
supper tonight"
Hush. Dsasilla /" said Mr.. Wheeler
mothers dreadful economical. Let